Stkiping attachment foe circulae knitting machines



{No.Model.) 4Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. A. PARR.

STRIPING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MAGHINES.

No. 509,243. I Patented Nov. 21,1893.

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Patented Nov. 21, 1893.

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J. A. FARR. STRIPING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MAGHINBS'.: No.509,243,

Patented Nov. 21, 1893.

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J. A. PARR. '1 STRIPING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 509,243. Patented Nov. 21,1893.

(No Model.)

TATES P TENT ()FFIGE.

JAMES A. PARR, OF AMSTERDAM, NEWV YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,243, dated November21, 1893.

Application filed May 11I 1893- Serial No. 473,755. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES A. PARR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Amsterdam, in the countyof Montgomery and State ofNew York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Striping Attachment-s forCircular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to striping attachments for circular knittingmachines, and has for its objects to improve and simplify the operatingmechanism of the thread guides and thread cutting devices; to provide asimple and quickly adjustable pattern mechanis'm for controllingthechange of threads at desired intervals; and generally to provide such anarrangement of devices for effecting a change of V the threads that areto be taken up by the knitting needles, as will greatly facilitate theoperation of the several mechanisms and permit a large saving of timeand labor in adjusting them to the requirements of different kinds ofwork.

The invention consists in the features of construction and novelcombinations of devices relating to striping attachments for knittingmachines, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a sideelevation ofmy improved striping attachment for circular knittingmachines. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the opposite side of the attachment,showing in dotted lines the needle cylinder and the thread support. Fig.3is'a plan of the striping attachment. Fig. 4 is a view of one of themovable thread guides and its operating lever with a portion of thethread guide op erating wheel, and showing the crimper or loop wheel indotted lines. Fig. 5 is a partly sectional elevation of the adjustingmechanism for the crimper or loop wheel support. Fig. 6 is a detail viewof the operating mech anism for the thread cutter.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates a pedestalsupporting a framework on which the various operative devices arearranged. At its central front portion, the pedestal lsupports astandard 2, the upper end of which is inclined forward andlongitudinally slotted at 3, Fig. 3, for adjustable attachment of aforward and downwardly curved arm 4 to the lower end of which is secureda hold-back or. cloth-presser 5, which presses the knitted fabric downinto the needle-cylinder 6, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. On theoutside of the needle-cylinder is a toothed crimper or loop Wheel 7which is rotated by intermeshing with the needles on the rotatingcylinder. This crimper or loop wheel 7 is mounted in a diagonalposition'on an inclined pivot 8, carried by an arm 9, Fig. 5, projectingfrom a collar 10 adjustably mounted on the forward end of alongitudinally movable shaft or rod 11 that projects through an openingin the lower portion of the standard 2 and is supported in a tubularguide or sleeve 12 secured to the rear of the standard. Asshown in Fig.5 this guide sleeve 12 may be provided with a perforated plate or flange13 through which the standard and sleeve may be detachably boltedtogether. The rear end of the sleeve 12 is provided with a detachablescrew cap or bushing 14 having a central perforation for passage of areduced and screw threaded rear portion of the shafit or rod 11, onwhich an adjusting nut 15 and jam nut 16 are mounted. A spiral spring 17surrounds the reduced portion of the rod or shaft 11 within the rearportion of its tubular guide support or sleeve.

The required diagonal position of the spirally tained by loosening a setscrew 18 in the collar 10 and turning said collara sufficient distanceon the end ofthe shaft 11; and by adjusting said shaft longitudinally,through its nut 15 the crimper can be made to approach or recede fromthe knitting needles, to mesh more or less closely therewith, asdesired.

The differently colored threads for the body and stripes of the fabricto be knitted are broughtdown through eyes 19, Fig. 2, on an arm 20,shown by dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, which is supported by a suitablestandard on one side of the machine. From the eyes 19 the threads arepassed to the crimper or loop wheel and kuittingneedles through movablethread guides 21, 22 and 23 a series of which, for giving the requiredchanges of color, are pivoted in an inclined position adjacent to oneside of the standard' 2 at the front of the machine frame, thearrangement of the said thread guides being such that they will projectdiagonally downward, forward and inward in proximity to the front underportion of the crimper or loop wheel, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Theseveral thread guides 21, 22 and 23 are pivoted on a downward andoutwardlyinclined pin a that is supported in a bracket 12 and providedwith nuts 0, Figs. 2 and 3, to hold said guides on their said supportingpin or pivot. Each of these thread guides may be of the form shown inFig. 4 and comprises a curved blade having apertures 24 for passage of athread. On the under side of each blade portion of the guide and betweenthe apertures 24 is a loop or staple 25 through which the thread is alsopassed. At its rear end the blade portion of each thread guide may belongitudinally slotted for passage of a set screw 26, Fig. 3, by whichthe said blade portion is adjustably attached to'a supporting lug 27 onthe pivotal body portion 28 of the guide. The pivotal portion 28 of eachthread guide is also provided with a bearing lug 29 to receive thepressure of a nose 30 on the forward end of each of aseries of centrallyfulcrumed levers 31, 32 and 33 through which the respective threadguides are thrown into operative position at proper intervals, in orderto change the stripe or color in the fabric as required. When eitherthread guide is relieved from the pressure of its actuating lever itwill be at once drawn out of position by the tension of a spring 34attached to the lug 27 in front of the pivotal portion of the guide. Thelower or fixed ends of the several springs 34 may be secured to a lug orarm 35 on the pedestal.

In the rear end of each thread guide operating lever 31, 32 and 33 is avertically adjustable screw 36 that is held in place by nuts 37 aboveand below the lever. The lowerend of each screw 36 has attached theretoa beveled lug 38 adapted to be acted upon at any desired intervals bypins 39 that are removably set at corresponding intervals in theperiphery of a thread-guide-operating wheel 40 secured to anintermittently rotary shaft 41 journaled in suitable bearings that areprovided in or upon parallel arms 42 and 43 which project from thepedestal 1 in a rear-' ward direction. On the arm 42, adjacent to thewheel 40, is supported a standard 44 to the upper end of which isattached an inward projecting shaft or pivot 45 on which the threadguide operating levers 31, 32 and 33 are fulcrumed.

The periphery of the thread guide operating wheel 40 is provided withseveral annular series of circular apertures or recesses 46 forinsertion of the removable pins 39 in'the required relative positions toeffect a change of thread by operating the levers 31, 32 and 33 in anydesired order and either singly or two levers simultaneously accordingto the character of work to be done. It will be understood that the pins39 must be so arranged with relation to the lugs 38 that at all times atleast one of the levers 31,32 and 33 will be caused to actuate thecorresponding thread guide 21, 22 or 23 and maintain it in an operativeposition. -When the wheel 40, which is normally at rest, is rotated asufficient distance to move one of the pins 39,, from beneath the lug 38of one of the thread guide operating levers and permit one of thesprings 34 to draw the corresponding thread guide out of position,another pin 39 will have acted on the lug 38 of another lever and causedit to throw its thread guide into operative position. The pins 39 arecapable of being quickly inserted into and removed from the apertures 46in the periphery of the intermittently actuated wheel 40 so that theirrelative positions can be readily changed without the expense of muchtime or labor in adjusting the machine to different kinds of work.

While I have shown three movable thread guides and accompanyingoperating devices it is obvious that the number of guides may beincreased or diminished as required, or without removing any guide orits actuating lever, they may be rendered inoperative by detaching thescrew 36 or adjusting it to such a height that its lug 38 will not comein contact with the pins on the wheel 40, or the same result may beaccomplished by removing all the pins 39 beneath the lever of the guidethat is to remain inoperative. The threads will then be changed only bythose guides whose levers can be actuated from the pins on the threadguide operating wheel.

To alug 47 on one side of the lower portion of the standard 2 isadjustably secured afixed cutter blade 48 that is'inclined inward towardthe crimper or loop wheel 7 as shown in Fig. 3. A curved and somewhatcrooked guard 49 projects inward and slightly downward and forward fromthe front end of the fixed blade 48, and below the front portion of theloop wheel 7, to support and guide the successive striping threads intothe cutting mechanism.- At the inner end of said guard is a nearlyvertical guard-wire 50 that prevents the threads from being carried toofar between the cutters. To the fixed cutter blade 48 are pivotallyattached a movable cutter blade 51 for severing the threads at theproper time and a movable clamping lever 52 to aid in holdingthe severedthread or threads. The inner side of the movable cutter blade 51 hasattached thereto a spring strip 53, Fig. 6, to assist in holding the endof the thread. At its forward end the clamping lever 52 is formed into atongue or prong 54 that pro jects beneath the spring strip 53 on themovable cutting blade. Between this prong or tongue 54 and the fixedcutter blade 48 is a spring strip 55 that is attached to the movableclamping lever. The fixed cutter blade 48 may be provided with a stoppin 56 to prevent the movable cutter blade 51 from swinging down toofar. This cutting and thread-holding mechanism is substantially the sameas that described in Letters-Patent No. 402,854, granted to me May7,1889, but is operated through a somewhat different actuating mechanismIIO which will nowbe explained. The rear ends of the movable cutterblade 51 and movable thread clamping lever 52 are provided with bearinglugs 57 and 58, respectively, to which are connected the lower ends ofspiral spring 59 and 60 that are supported above by an arm 61 projectingfrom the standard 2. On the arm 43 of the pedestal or machine frame islugs 57 and 58 of the movable cutter blade 51 and movable clamping lever52, respectively. In the rear end of each lever 63 and 64 is attached ascrew 66 that isvertically-adjustable by means of nuts 67 and providedat its lower end with a beveled lug 68 adapted to be acted on at properintervals by pins 69 that are removably set in two annular series ofcircular apertures or recesses 7 0 formed in the periphery of a cutteroperating wheel 71 which is secured to the shaft 41 by which the threadguide operating wheel 40 is carried. By the pins 69 hearing upwardbeneath the lugs 68 the rear ends of the levers 63 and 64 are elevatedand their forward ends pressed downward against the lugs 57 and 58 onthe movable cutter blade 51 and clamping lever 52 thus holding them inan elevated position until it is required to sever and hold a threadwhen changing the stripe.

The thread guide operating wheel 40 and cutter operating wheel 71 rotatetogether and the pins 69 on said wheel 71 are so arranged with relationto the pins 39 on the wheel 40, that when a thread guide is lowered outof its operative position, iuthe manner hereinbefore 8 described, thedownward movement of said guide will carry its thread between thecutters 48 and 51 and the lever 63 will be released and permit thespring 59 to act so as to cause the cutter blade 51 to descend and severthe thread. When the thread is thus severed the end thereof leading fromthe thread guide will be held, say, between the spring 53 and prong 54,the thread formerly held by said parts being thrown by movement of itsthread guide against the crimper or loop wheel and thereby presented tothe needles. Meanwhile a second inoperative thread may be held by theprong54 and spring 55 against the fixed cutter, the lever 64 having beenreleased by rotation of the wheel 71 so as to permit the spring to lowerthe clamping lever 52 to which said prong and spring are attached. Atcertain points on the cutter operating'wheel 71 some of the pins 69 inthe two rows may be arranged in alignment so that the movable cutter 51and clamping lever 52 will be raised simultaneously to release thethread held betweenthe spring 55 and the fixed cutter 48,-

the then active thread being passed, by movement of its thread guide,between said guide operating wheel 40 and cutter operating wheel 71 atthe same time and intermittingly a ratchet wheel 72 is secured to thewheel 71 or to the shaft 41 on which said wheels 40 and 71 are carried.This ratchet wheel 72 is moved the distance of one tooth at certainintervals through the action of a pawl 73 fulcrumed on a pin or pivot 74that is adjustably secured in the upper slotted end of a vertical arm 75mounted on a rockshaft 76 journaled in suitable bearings on the rear ofthe pedestal. The pawl 73 is provided with an elongated flange or tailportion 77, Figs. 3 and 6, through which it is normally supported in anelevated position, out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 72, by a pin78 projecting laterally from a lug 79 on an arm of a' crooked lever 80carried by one end of a rock-shaft 81, that is mounted in a bearing 82on the standard 62, Figs. 1 and 3. To the other end of the rock-shaft 81is secured a rearwardly curved arm or lever 83 in the rear end of whichis supported a vertically adjustable screw 84 having attached to itslower end a beveled lug 85, .Fig. 1, which normally rests on theperiphery of a pattern wheel 86 that is loosely mounted on one end ofthe shaft 41 which carries the thread guide operating wheel and thecutter operating wheel. In the periphery of the pattern wheel 86, is anannular series of circular apertures or recesses 87, Fig. 3, to receivea number of removable pins 88 that may be arranged in groups of two ormore at suitable points to correspond with the intervals at which thestriping of the fabric is to be changed. While the lug remains on theperiphery of the pattern wheel 86, the arm 83 will be depressed,

the lever 80 will be held firmly in an elevated position by a spring 89at one end, which spring is suspended from the bracket arm 61 and servesby its tension to hold the rock-shaft 81 and arms 80 and 83 fromvibration, and the pin 78 carried by the arrii80 will support the pawl73 at such a height that though it is free to oscillate or reciprocatewith the movements of the rock-shaft 76 it will not engage the ratchetwheel 72 through which the thread guide operating wheel 40 and cutteroperating wheel 71, are to be actuated. When,however, the pattern wheel86 has been rotated a sufficient distance to bring a pin or group ofpins 88 beneath the beveled lug 85 so as to raise the arm 83 and therebyoscillate the rock-shaft 81 in such manner as to depress the arm 80provided with a spring 92, Figs. 1 and 3, for holding it to closeengagement with said ratchet wheel. On the end of the shaft 41 may beplaced a spring brake or detent 93, Figs. 1 and 3, to bear on the sideof the pattern wheel and steady its movements. The pawl 91, throughwhich the pattern wheel is actuated, is fulcrumed on a pivot 94, Fig. 1,that is adjustably supported in the slotted end of an arm 95 mounted onone end of the rock-shaft 76 from which the pawl 73 is also actuated. Onthis rock-shaft 76 is also mounted a forward projecting arm 96 having aspring 97 at tached thereto and carrying a roller 98 which is adapted toengage a cam race 99 on the rotary needle cylinder 6, as indicated bydotted or broken lines in Fig. 2, so that when said cylinder is operatedit will furnish the power to actuate the several working parts of thestriping attachments.

The pins 39, 69 and 88, carried, respectively, by the wheels 40, 71 and86, are preferably formed as screws, or screw bolts that can be readilyand quickly inserted in or removed from said wheels by means of a screwdriver so that in order to re-set the pins or arrange themin variouspositions to adapt the attachment for use in different kinds of work butlittle time or labor will be required.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination with a rotary needlecylinder, a series of movable thread-guides, anda thread-guide-operatingwheel intermittingly actuated from the needle-cylinder, of severalannular series of removable pins insertedradially in the periphery ofsaid threadguide-operatingwheel, and a series of levers actuated, atintervals from the pins on the thread-guide-operatin g wheel and eachadapted to act directly on a thread-guide to throw it into operativeposition, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a rotary needle cylinder, a series of movablethread-guides, a fixed cutter, a movable cutter and thread holdinglever, of a thread-guide-operating wheel and a cutter-operating wheeleach having its periphery provided with a series of radially insertedand removable pins, levers actuated from said pins and adapted to beardirectly on and operate the thread-guides, movable cutter andthread-holding lever, and mechanismthrough which thethread-guideoperating wheel and cutter-operating wheel areintermittingly actuated from the rotary needle cylinder, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination of a rotary needle cylinder, having a cam race, aloop wheel, a series of movable thread-guides pivotally supported at oneside of the loop wheel and each provided at its rear end with a bearinglug, springs connected with said thread-guides to draw them away fromthe loop wheel and needle cylinder, a thread-guide-operating wheel, aseries of levers actuated-by said wheel and each adapted to bear atitsforward end directly on the bearing lug of one of the movablethread-guides to throw it into operativeposition adjacent to the loopwheel, a cutter mechanism mounted at one side of the loop wheel, acutter-operating wheel, a pattern wheel, a rock-shaft having an armprovided with a roller engaged in the cam race of theneedle cylinderdevices for actuating the pattern wheel, cutter-operating wheel andthread-guide-operating wheel from said rock shaft, and mechanismactuated by the pattern wheel to control the devices actuating thecutter operating wheel and thread-guide-opcrating wheel, substantiallyas described.

at. The combination with a rotary needle cylinder, a loop wheel, and aseries of movable thread-guides pivotally supported at one side of theloop wheel and each provided at its rear end with a bearing lug, ofsprings connected with said thread-guides to draw them away from theloop wheel and needle cylinder, a thread-guide-operating wheelintermittingly actuated fromthe needle cylinder, several annular seriesof removable pins inserted in the periphery of saidthread-guideoperat-ing wheel, and a series of levers each of which isadapted to hear at its forward end directly on the bearing lugof one ofthe movable thread-guides and provided. at its rear end with anadjustable lug through which it is actuated by the pins on thethread-guideoperating wheel to throw the thread-guide into operativeposition adjacent to the loop wheel and needle cylinder, substantiallyas described.

5. The combination of a rotary needle cylinder, a loop wheel, a seriesof movable threadguideseach of which is provided at its rear end with abearing lug, a thread-guide-operating wheel having its peripheryprovided with several annular series of removable pins, a series oflevers each of which is adapted to bear at its forward end directly onthe bearing lug of one of the threadsguides, screws carried by the rearends of said levers and provided with lugs to be acted on by the pins ofthe thread-guide-operating wheel to actuate the levers and cause them tothrow either thread guide into operative position, springs connectedwith the thread guides to draw them away from the loop wheel whenreleased by their respective levers, thread cutting devices, andmechanism intermediate the thread guide operating wheel, cutting devicesand needle cylinder and through which the thread guides and cutter areactuated, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a rotary needle cylinder, a loop wheel, a seriesof movable thread-guides mounted at one side of the loop wheel, athread-guide-operating wheel and a series of levers through whichthethreadguides are operated from said wheel, of a fixed cutter mountedonthe other side of theloop wheel, a movable cutter and .thread holdinglever pivoted to the fixed cutter and each provided at its rear end witha bearing lug, springs. connected with said bearinglugs, a

to operating wheel through which the thread guide-operating wheel andcutter-operating wheel are intermittingly actuated, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit- [5 nesses.

. JAMES A. FARR.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. NoRRIs, GEO. W. REA.

